Virgin Atlantic: Is Delta an interested buyer?

Virgin Atlantic Airways may soon have a new shareholder. Singapore Airlines is in talks to sell its 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic to Delta Air Lines. A deal would help Delta lay claim to highly competitive US to London airline routes.

A Virgin Atlantic aircraft comes in to land at Heathrow Airport, in London, in this 2009 file photo. Singapore Airlines said on Monday it was in talks with interested parties to sell its 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic, with sources revealing that Delta Air Lines Inc was among the potential suitors.

A person with knowledge of the possible deal told The Associated Press that Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc. is in talks with Singapore Airlines about buying the Virgin Atlantic stake. The person requested anonymity because the talks are ongoing.

Virgin Atlantic is the second-biggest airline at London's Heathrow airport, behind British Airways and BA is a partner with Delta competitor American Airlines. Takeoff and landing rights there are limited, a barrier for airlines that want to add flights.

A Delta partnership with Virgin Atlantic on U.S.-London routes would allow it to benefit from Virgin's established position at Heathrow.

Some 51 percent of Virgin Atlantic, which was founded in 1984, is owned by Branson's Virgin Group. Singapore Airlines bought its stake from Branson in early 2000 for 600.3 million British pounds.

Singapore Airlines said in its statement that the talks may or may not result in a deal.

The London-New York route is one of the world's major air corridors, and Delta has been undertaking a major expansion of its hubs at New York's LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports.